Sharpening Pencils

God is so good! Life always has a way of working itself out.

As I write this, I have tears rolling down my cheeks, and I hear the sounds of pencils sharpening on our antique pencil sharpener in our study.

Last night, my daughter and I read a letter together that was sent home by her second grade teacher. It was devastating to watch the tears roll down her little cheeks as she learned Mrs. Gillis won’t be back after Spring Break. She loves her with all her heart.

My daughter has spent many nights playing school and practicing with her stuffed animals, dolls or imaginary students to be as good of a teacher as Mrs. Gillis. She is an amazing teacher. The students love her, and I watched first hand the love Mrs. Gillis returned to all of them this past week during “go to school with your student day!” It was evident why my daughter longed to be a teacher, because she made me long to be one, as well. There is no greater reward for an educator, I wouldn’t think.

As we discussed each of her teachers, thus far, in her primary journey – and how she has loved them ALL the same (her words)- I tried to show her that the new teacher coming after Spring Break will be just the same…. she will love her all the same! But, she looked up at me with tears and said, “But, none have ever left me!”

Wow- JUST BROKE ME DOWN!

It’s hard when we can’t fix their pain with our “glad game” positive words. But…. I did keep trying!

Today, after she has called her grandparents to read the letter, and read it to her older brothers, and probably read it at least fifteen other times to herself….she came in to show me ALL of the PENCILS she has just been sharpening. She had come up with a plan! She said she had sharpened all of these pencils (a mound of pencil sharpenings all over the floor mind you) so that the NEW TEACHER (the young, just out of college, precious God Sent) will have these pencils ready. She said it was always hard for Mrs. Gillis to have to stop and sharpen pencils during class!

God love her!

I think I have a special, future teacher in the works who understands not only the importance of teaching, but also the importance of embracing change. I guess sometimes you just have to sharpen your pencils and get back to work!

Yours Truly,

Hairnet Heiness